Search - Nick Drake :: Bryter Layter

Excellent

Bill Your 'Free Form FM Handi Cyber | Mahwah, NJ USA | 12/07/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Bryter Layter is Nick Drake working with expanded orchestrations. Five Leaves Left has subtle string, but here, horns and even female singers are added.



This almost sounds like Forever Changes, except that Love album ratiated Authur Lee as mastero, calling the shots. Drake seems to be a lone guitar player surrounded by adoring musicians on Bryrer Layer. His singing is mournful and self-effacing as ever.



Which makes the album so effective. The musical buffer around Drakes subtle voice only highlights his poetic modesty as a singer. The contrast of his insinuating singing and the big shell of the arrangements works wonders. Listen to "One Of These Things First,"

or "Chime of the city clock."



"Poor Boy" is a bit much. When the singers sing "poor boy, feels sorry for himself," towards Drake, it underminds the depths of his sadness. The whole piece is a little mellowdramatic and insulting to Drake, who was struggling with a serious mental illness.



But even this song is a good spin, and the album as a whole is top notch."